John, I'd say it depends on the weather. On a beautiful day John: I would expect crowds on a nice May day. A lot of coaches from northern Switzerland offer trips especially for retired people for little money into different areas of Switzerland. And the Ticino is a very popular destination. Anyway, you will spend a couple of hours in Gandria wich is a very small village, have a look around, have lunch maybe at one of the sweet restaurants on the lakeside, have a good time. Don't worry, even with crowds it's nice. May is not the peak, but it starts.... people who don't have children at school, usually avoid going on holiday during the real peak in July/August. They have the opportunity for trips anytime.<BR>I am sure you will be fine.

Hi John, I've visited Gandria and Morcote two different Junes, and though there were a number of visitors, as soon as we walked back into the little alleyways, there was hardly anyone. Most tourists were in the restaurants. Both my visits were weekdays and both were by lakeboat. If you stay at Fischer's and walk, you'll be able to visit Gandria before or after most of the boat and bus tourists. The best rigatoni with gorgonzola I ever had was in a little restaurant at Gandria (Mirabeau, maybe? M-something, anyway). Morcote is a tiny bit larger, with an incredible climb to a lovely church and cemetery. Now that we've gone on and on about Lugano and its lake villages, I hope you'll be able to take a peek at my beloved Lago Maggiore sometime. J.

jw<BR>Thanks for the enthusiastic review and suggestions. No question we do plan to visit your beautiful lake--when is the only remaining question.<BR>Arrivaderla!

Hi John. I've just re-read the posts on this thread -- have to confess that I get such a rush just reading about Ticino. Have you had a chance to look through our exchanges in the 'Support Group for those who love Switzerland' thread? Actually, I wish all of the notes from this thread were in that one, because they surely do fit with its 'mission statement' (can't believe I used that jargon). By the way, I can relate to your frustration with having to put off your trip. I've been trying to get back for two years now, and only this site keeps me from suffering major withdrawal. J.<BR><BR>Anyway, Ursula, if you are nearby, would you write a bit about Bissone? <BR><BR>

jw: There is not an awful lot to write about Bissone. Some painters were born there. It's just a nice tiny and very typical place. If you want to see some pictures, go to<BR>http://www.bissone.ch/<BR>For some English info, click the flag.

I think Bissone is the birthplace of Francesco Borromini, the great Baroque architect. There was this wooden (half) copy of his convent church San Carlo alle Quattre Fontane (San Carlino, Rome) in front of Lugano on the artificial island.<BR><BR>I enjoyed the arcades of the old houses (refreshing shadow!) in Bissone, although I must admit the village suffers from the motorway.<BR><BR>But I have another recommendation of a fantastic place in Ticino: Rovio. I stayed in the Park Hotel. It has a fantastic garden, pool, small library room, good food... lake view...<BR><BR>Ingo

Ingo: Rovio, yes, I agree. Do you happen to know Carona? Hm, love it too.

Ursula, Carona is one of my favourites. I think we had a discussion about it at a thread. I cannot remember which ... Maybe it was "Support Group".<BR><BR>I am afraid there are too many lovely places in Ticino. We will not be able to see them all.<BR><BR>Ingo

But I'll tell you what -- if my bones hold up, I'm surely going to give it my best effort!

Right yesterday I saw a documentation on TV about a woman who moved to a small village in Valle Verzasca (maybe near Sonogno) and is living there for about 20 years. She bought an old rustico with no comfort and lives a very simple lifestyle but enjoys her life very much. Her name is Karin Ruegg (?) and she wrote some books about "What Grandma still knew" (but in German).<BR><BR>Ingo

Ingo: Kathrin RŸegg is very famous here. She wrote at least some 10 books. I have not heard anything new for some years. As you say correctly, she also did some cooking stuff on a German TV Channel called "Was die Grossmutter noch wusste" (on SW3, I think).